Propeller



June 28, 1932. E- DOREMUS 1,864,716

PROPELL ER Filed March 19, 1930 Edward Pia/Win09,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES EDWARD P. DOREMUS, OF WEEKS ISLAND, LOUISIANA PROPELLER Application filed March 19, 1930. vSerial No. 437,201. f

This invention relates to a novel propulsion unit such for example as propellers for boats of various styles, and has as its primary object to provide means for so mounting of the propeller, proper, upon the propeller shaft that, in the event the propeller blades come in contact with a log or a stone, or any dbris floating in the water, no damage will result, the mounting means being so constructed and functioning automatically in such a manner as to permit free continued rotation of the propeller shaft while the propeller remains in contact with the obstruction and stationary.

Another object of the invention is to provide a propulsion unit of the class, referred to above, which may be adjusted in accordance with the power of the engine by which the propeller shaft is driven, and likewise inac- 2 cordance with the size of the propeller.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for protecting the operating parts of the mounting for the propeller so that they will not become entangled with sea weed or any dbris in the water.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein the figure is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, illustrating the ropeller and mounting means therefor, em odying the invention.

In the drawing the propeller shaft is indicated by the numeral 1 and fitted to this shaft is a collar 2, which is held for rotation with the shaft preferably by a diametric pin 3 extending through diametric registering openings in the collar and shaft, and also by a longitudinal key 4 engaging in grooves in the bore of the collar and in the front surface of the shaft, and this collar is provided at its rear side with an annular series of clutch teeth 5, which are somewhat rounded at their outer ends, as indicated by the numeral 6, the notches or recesses between the teeth being likewise rounded at the points or juncture of the adjacent sides of relatively adj acent'teeth as indicated by the numeral 7 The propeller is indicated in general by the numeral 8 and comprises blades 9 of the usual form which radiate from a hub 10 which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 1, and this hub is provided at its forward end with an annular series of teeth 11 which correspond, in contour and dimensions, to the teeth 5, so that when the teeth upon the collar and the teeth upon the hub of the propeller are in mutual engagement as shown in the figure of the drawing, the propeller will be held for rotation with the propeller shaft. I

In order that the propeller hub may be yieldably held in position with its clutch teeth en gaging the clutch teeth of the collar 2, a compression spring 12 is fitted upon the end of the shaft 1, and bears at one end against the rear end of the hub 10, and at its other end against a washer 13 which is fitted onto the reduced threaded rear end 14 of the pro-- peller shaft, this washer being of a diameter greater than that of the shaft 1 or, more particularly, that portion of the shaft upon which the spring is fitted. A nut 15 is threaded onto the reduced threaded end 14 of the shaft and a pin 16 is preferably secured through the nut and through the reduced threaded end portion of the shaft. At this point it will be evident that the spring 12 will hold the propeller with the teeth of its hub engaging the teeth of the collar 2 so long as the propeller is to be rotated under normal running conditions and should the propeller blades come in contact with a rock or a stone or other obstruction, or heavy debris, in the water, the teeth 5 and 11 of the collar 2, and propeller hub 10 would, being arranged in the manner stated above separate to permit the rotor to remain stationary so long as it maintained contact with the obstruction, while the propeller shaft would continue to rotate, the spring 12 being so tensioned as to provide for this partial separation of the propeller hub and collar.

From the foregoing it will be evident that duo to the formation of the teeth 5 and 11, the teeth being relatively short and rounded, as

above stated, there will not be liable to be any marring of the teeth as they ride past one another and, inasmuch as when one or both propellers strike obstructions, the impact is of short duration and the teeth will remain intact for a long period of use and it will be understood from the foregoing that the nut 15, may be adjusted to vary the tension of the spring 12 depending upon the power of the motor which drives the shaft 1.

In order that the spring and the threaded end of the propeller shaft and the nut and washer thereon may be protected from damage which would be caused by impact or entanglement with dbris or sea weed, and in order, furthermore, to prevent the entrance of water into the hub of the propeller, the outer end of the hub 8 is slightly reduced in diameter and eXteriorly threaded as inclicated by the numeral 17 and a cap member 18, which is preferably of conical form and closed, at its rear end, is threaded at its for- Ward end onto this portion of the hub and houses the parts just referred to.

What I claim is In combination with a shaft, a marine propeller having a hub provided with a bore which snugly receives the shaft, and fixed blades radiating from the hub approximately midway between the ends of the bore thereof, the hub having clutch elements located at its forward end, a clutch member slidable on the shaft and engageable by the clutch elements, an abutment member carried at the rear end of the shaft, a spring coiled around the shaft and interposed between the rear end of the hub and the abutment member, and a cap attached to the rear end of the hub and housing the spring and the rear end of the shaft, the clutch member, the hub and the cap being the same external diameter. d

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' EDWARD P. DOREMUS. 

